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W. K. WIEN ER Jan. 29, 1963 LABEL REMOVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.22, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEI J W. K. WlEN ER LABEL REMOVER Jan. 29, 1963 Filed Oct. 22, 19592 Sheets-Sheet 2 We/oon W/ener IN V EN TOR.

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The present invention relates to a new and improved device for removingthe labels from file folders or the like.

For most filing purposes, manilla folders or other similar type offolders are used. The contents of such folders are usually identified bythe nomenclature on the label adhes-ively secured to the tab of thefolder. In many ofiices, the file folders are used over and over againfor different files or contents and in such cases, the old label isordinarily removed so that a new label may be placed on the file folder.Heretofore, the removal of such labels has generally been accomplishedby scraping the label with a knife or razor blade which is slow, tediousand even dangerous, particularly since it is important to remove all ofthe label without damaging the file folder itself.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to providea new and improved means for quickly, easily and safely removing thelabels from file folders or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedmeans for removing paper, cloth, or other non-metallic labels from filefolders or the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved device wherein labels may be quickly and easily removed fromfile folders or the like by one or more rotating cutting blades.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved device wherein labels may be quickly and easily removed fromfile folders or the like by a buifing, sanding or rubbing action.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved device for removing labels from file folders or the likewherein the device may be easily fitted on the tab of the folder andover the label afiixed thereto.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved means for removing labels from folders or the like which may bereadily adjusted to remove labels from folders of varying thicknesses.

The construction designed to carry out the invention wfll be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof,

Patenteddan. 29, 1953 device R includes a body housing H which ispreferably formed from an upper body member 10 and a lower body member11 which are secured together by friction snap-on means 12, which willbe described hereinafter, or any other suitable securing means. Thelower body member 11 has a lateral slot 13 extending therethrough intowhich the edge of a file folder F or the like is adapted to bepositioned for the removal of a label L, as will be more fullyexplained. A motor M is mounted in the upper body member 10 forsupplying power to a label removing mechanism C positioned incompartments 10a and 11a formed in the housing H.

Considering the invention more in detail, the label removing mechanism Chas a pair of rotatable elements 15 and 16 having blades or cuttingedges 15a and 16a respectively, thereon. The elements 15 and 16 aresubstantially cylindrical and are preferably identical. In the formshown in FIG. 2, the blades 15a and 16a have spiral or inclined bladeswhich accomplish a scraping and cutting action on the label L with whichthey are engaged when the elements 15 and 16 are rotated, as will beexplained. Also, as will be more evident hereinafter, the spiral orinclined blades effect a feeding of the removed portions of the label Laway from the elements 15 and 16 to keep the blades 15a and 16asubstantially clear from the removed portions of the label for therebyfacilitating the removal of the label L. For

wherein an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present inventionillustrating the device in position for use on the edge of a file folderor the like;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the means for moving the position of oneof the rotatable elements;

PEG. 4 is a View taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement of the gear drivemechanism of the device of the present invention;

PEG. 6 is an elevation of an alternative cutter;

FIG. 7 is an elevation of another alternative type of cutting blade; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of one of the guide springs of the device ofthe present invention.

in the drawings, the device of the present invention is designatedgenerally with the letter R. Briefly, the

the purpose of connecting the rotatable elements 15 and 16 in driverelationship with the motor M, gears 17 and 18 are positionedlongitudinally one above the other on a motor shaft 19. A bracket 21which is shown as substantially U-shaped is attached to the motor M bymeans of screws 22 or other suitable means connecting the flanged sides21a to the motor M. A support 24 is welded or otherwise suitably fixedto the bracket 21 for supporting a bushing 26 therebelow. Such bushing26 is adapted to receive a shaft 27 which has a gear 28 thereon and a.tapered insert 29 therebelow. The tapered insert 29 is positioned in anopening 16b in the element 16 for es tablishing a releasable drivingconnection therebetween. For supporting the lower end of the element 16,a support 34 is secured to the lower body member 11 by adhesive or othersuitable means and is positioned in a lower cavity or recess 11b formedin such member 11. A bushing 36 is integral with or is suitably attachedto the support 34 for receiving a lower axle. 16c on the lower end ofthe element 16. The gear 28 has teeth 28a thereon which mesh with teeth1811 on the gear 18 on the drive shaft 19 of the motor M so that as themotor M operates the drive shaft 19, the gear 18 is rotated which inturn rotates the gear 28 to rotate the insert 29 and the element 16therewith. It will be understood that only a portion of the gear teeth28a and 18a are shown in FIG. 5 since such teeth actually extend aroundthe full circumference of each gear.

The element 15 is mounted adjacent to the element 16 but with theelements spaced apart to provide an open ing 13' therebetween which issuitable for receiving the edge of the file folder F. Also, it ispreferable to mount the element 15 for lateral movement to adjust thewidth of the space 13' to accommodate file folders of differentthicknesses. To provide such adjustable mounting, the frame member 21has an opening or slot Zlb (FIG. 3) in Which a slidable bushing 42 ispositioned for movement back and forth therein. The bushing 42 has abushing sleeve 42a on its lower end which is preferably integral with ahead 42b thereon. A T-slot 420 is formed in the head 42b for receivingany enlarged end 51a on an adjusting, rod 51. A slot or opening 21c isprovided in the leg 21d of the member 21 through which the rod 51extends. The rod 51 has an adjusting screw 55 connectedtheretowhich isthreaded into a threaded hole 10b therein through which the rod 51 andthe adjusting screw 55 extend. Thus, by turning the knob 55a on thescrew 55, the rod 51 and the bushing 42 are moved to change the positionof the bushing 42 in the slot 211). A set screw 59 is threadedvertically'into the upper body member 16 for engagement with the rod 51to lock the rod 51 and the parts therewith against movement when adesired position of the bushing 42 is obtained.

For connecting the upper end of the element 15 to the movable bushing42, a shaft 47a on a gear 47 extends into the bushing sleeve 42a. Aninsert 49 similar to the insert 29 but longer, is adapted to releasablyfit into the opening 15!) of the member 15. A variable gear mechanismwhich includes gears 47 and 17 is provided so that the gear 47 mesheswith the gear 17 on the shaft 19, both of which have extra long gearteeth 47a and 17a, respectively (FIG. so that such gears remain in mesheven though the gear 47 is moved towards and away from the gear 17 whenthe bushing 42 is moved. The teeth 47a and 17a would of course extendfor the full circumference of the gears 47 and 17, respectively. Theslot 21b is of such length that it limits the movement of the member 42to prevent the gear teeth 47a and 17a from separating from each other.As will be more evident, such construction permits an adjustment of theopening 13' to accommodate folders or sheets of difierent thicknesses.

A similar adjustable mounting means is used on the lower end of therotatable element 15. A bracket 61 similar in shape to the bracket 21 isattached to the lower body member 11 by screws 62 or other suitablemeans extending through flanged ends 61a into the member 11. The member61has a slot 611) which is preferably identical with the slot 21b in thebracket 21. A slidable bushing 72 similar to the slidable bushing 42 isslidably positioned in the slot 61b and is also provided with a bushingsleeve 72a for receiving the lower axle 15c. An adjusting rod 71 isconnected to the bushing 72, preferably in the same manner as the rod 51is connected to the bushing 42. A threaded hole 11c is provided in themember 11 to receive the adjusting screw 75 which is connected to therod 71 for movement together. The screw 75 has a knob 75a for turningthe screw 75. A set screw 79 is positioned in the body member 11 of thehousing H for locking the rods 71 and the bushing 61 in any selectedposition. If desired, the lower adjustment screw 75, the rod 71 and theset screw 79 may be eliminated, in which case the bushing 72 would befree to move with the element 15 as it is moved at its upper end by theturning of the screw 55 as previously ex-- plained.

To hold the file folders or other sheets firmly within the slot oropening 13 and the space 13 between the elements 15 and 16, a pair ofsprings or guides 90 (FIGS. 4 and 8) and 91 (FIG. 4) may be fixed to thehousing H by means of screws 93 or other suitable means. The guides 90and 91 are positioned opposite each other and are fitted into the slot13. The details of the guide 90 is shown in FIG. 8, wherein the window90a is seen through which a portion of the element 15 extendsn Openings9019 are provided in the guide 90 for receiving the screws 93. The guide90 has resilient curved extensions 90c outwardly of the screws 93 forresiliently but firmly engaging the file folder or sheet. The guide 91is identical with the guide 90 and has a window 91a through which theelement 16 extends, holes 9111 for screws 93, and curved extensions 91copposite the extensions 900 for engaging a file folder or sheet betweenthem and also to aid in guiding the file folder or sheet through therotating elements 15 and 16.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a relatively high speedmotor is used and a channel 100 or similar space is provided in theupper member through which electrical wires W from the motor extend toany suitable electrical outlet (not shown). In order to remove anyshavings or particles of labels which have been removed from filefolders or sheets which may accumulate in the compartments 11a and 10a,a door 11a is placed in the body member 11. Hinges are provided forattaching the door 11a to the body member 11 so that such door He may beeasily opened. A knob 95 or other suitable means is provided on theouter surface- 11 of the door 112 for further facilitating the openingof the door He. The edge 11g (FIG. 4) of the door He is taperedinwardly, and the edge 11h of the housing 11 opposite the door edge 11gis tapered also so as to make a relatively tight fit of the door He inthe housing 11. Such door of course may be eliminated and the shavingsremoved from the compartments 11a and liia merely by separating theupper body member 10 from the lower body member 11 which exposes thecompartments 11a and 16a so that the shavings may be quickly and easilyremoved by shaking or other suitable means as desired. The rotatableelements 15 and 16 are disconnected from the inserts 49 and 29respectively when the upper body member 14) is separated from the lowerbody member 11. This arrangement facilitates the removal of therotatable elements 15 and 16 for replacement or repair thereof. Thetapered inserts 49 and 29 are easily fitted into the openings 15!) and1613 respectively, when it is desired to join the upper body member 10with the lower body member 11.

Friction snap-ons 12 are illustrated in FIG. 2 and are provided foreasily assembling and dis-assembly of the upper body member 10 and thelower body member 11. Each snap-on 12 includes a male member 10d whichis adapted for insertion in a female member 11d. As many snap-on members12 as desired may be used, but preferably four are used.

In the operation of device R of this inveniton, the first step is toadjust the opening 13 between the elements 15 and 16, if necessary. Suchadjustment is accomplished by means of the adjustment screws 55 and 75,as previously explained, so that the width of the opening 13' willcoincide or correspond to the thickness of the file folder F or othersheet from which the label L or similar item is to be removed. The setscrews 59 and 79 would then be tightened to lock the adjustable element15 in the selected position. Then the device R, which is preferablysmall enough so as to fit comfortably into the palm of the hand, isfirmly grasped and placed in position on the edge of a file folder F asillustrated in FIG. 1 or on any similar sheet. The

motor M drives the shaft 19 to rotate the gears 17 and 18, and thusdrives the gears 28 and 47 for thereby rotating the elements 15 and 16.During such rotation of the elements 15 and 16, the device R is manuallymoved along the folder F and the cutting blades 15a and 16a scrape andcut the label L from the folder F without damaging the folder itself.

Although the preferred form of the invention is illustrated with therotatable elements 15 and 16 having spiral or inclined cutting blades15a and 16a, respectively, other types of rotatable elements may beused, examples of which are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 6, themodified element 115 is identical with the elements 15 and 16 except forthe construction of the cutting blades 115a which are vertical orlongitudinal rather than spiral or inclined, and therefore the opening115b corresponds .with the opening 151; and the axle 115c correspondswith the axle 15c.

In FIG. 7, the modified element 215 is identical with the elements 15and 16 except for the construction of the surface 215a which is scoredor knurled so as to produce a bufiing, sanding or rubbing effect, ratherthan a cutting one. The opening 215!) corresponds with the opening 15band the axle 215c corresponds with the axle 150.

It should also be noted that the adjustment means provided for movingthe rotatable element 15 in relation to the element 16 maybe eliminated,and in which case the opening 13' would remain fixed. The extra longgear teeth 47a and 17a on the gears 47 and 17 respectively, would not benecessary with the rotatable elements 15 and 16 mounted in a fixedposition in relation to each other.

The device of the present invention solves a problem that has longplagued persons engaged in filing operations. Labels may be quickly andeasily removed by the device R of the invention and file folders may beused over and over again thus creating a large saving in filingoperations.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size,shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction, may be made within the scope of the appended claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for removing labels from file folders, sheets and thelike, including a body housing, a motor mounted in said body housing, apair of opposed rotatable elements having a longitudinal openingtherebetween, each of said elements having means therewith for engaginga label for removing same upon rotation of said elements, connectionmeans connecting said motor to said rotatable elements, said bodyhousing having a slot therein coinciding with the opening between saidrotatable elements thereby permitting a file folder or sheet with alabel affixed thereto to be inserted therein and between said rotatableelements, means mounting said elements in said housing to maintain saidslot in alignment with said longitudinal opening during rotation of saidrotatable elements, and an adjustment means at each end of one of saidrotatable elements for moving said one of said rotatable elementslaterally and substantially parallel to the other of said rotatableelements to adjust the space between said rotatable elements foraccommodating folders or sheets of different thicknesses.

2. An apparatus for removing labels from file folders, sheets and thelike, including a body housing, a motor mounted in said body housing, apair of opposed longitudinally extending rotatable elements having alongitudinal opening .therebetween, connection means connecting saidmotor to said rotatable elements, said body housing having a slottherein coinciding with the opening between said rotatable elementsthereby permitting a file folder or sheet with a label afiixed theretoto be inserted therein and between said rotatable elements, springguides in said slot, each of said spring guides having a window throughwhich said rotatable elements extend therethrough for engagement withthe file folders while said spring guides engage the folders outwardlyof said rotatable elements, an adjustment means for one of saidrotatable elements, said adjustment means including a bracket having ahorizontal slot therein, a bushing member connected to said one of saidrotatable elements and slidably positioned in said horizontal slot, andmeans for moving said bushing member in said horizontal slot to therebymove said one of said rotatable elements to adjust the space betweensaid rotatable elements for receiving folders or sheets of differentthicknesses therebetween.

3. The structure recited in claim 2, including an adjusting screw onsaid bushing member, said body housing having a threaded opening thereinadapted to receive said screw and to be engaged therewith whereby themovement of said bushing member in said horizontal slot is accomplishedby the turning of said adjusting screw.

4. An apparatus for removing labels from file folders, sheets and thelike, including a pair of opposed rotatable elements having alongitudinal opening therebetween, a motor for driving said rotatableelements, connection means connecting said motor to said rotatableelements, said longitudinal opening between said rotatable elementsbeing of a width to receive a file folder, sheet or the liketherebetween, and separate screw adjustment means at each end of one ofsaid rotatable elements for moving it laterally and substantiallyparallel to the other of said rotatable elements to adjust the spacebetween said rotatable elements for accommodating folders, sheets or thelike of different thicknesses.

5. An apparatus for removing labels from file folders, sheets and thelike, including a pair of opposed rotatable elements having alongitudinal opening therebetween, a motor for driving said rotatableelements, connection means connecting said motor to said rotatableelements, said longitudinal opening between said rotatable elementsbeing of a width to receive a file folder, sheet or the liketherebetween, means for guiding said file folder, sheet or the likethrough said longitudinal opening between said rotatable elements whilesaid rotatable elements are rotating, and said rotatable elements eachhaving a substantially cylindrical external surface and bladesprotruding therefrom for effecting the scraping of a label from the filefolder or sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,237,047 Howell Aug. 14, 1917 1,930,219 Zimber Oct. 10, 1933 2,037,330Jackson Apr. 14, 1936 2,246,036 Farrell June 17, 1941 2,264,278 DanforthDec. 2, 1941 2,755,708 Rumsavich July 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,837,973Dunlap June 10, 1958 165,164 Sweden Oct. 28, 1958

1. AN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LABELS FROM FILE FOLDERS, SHEETS AND THELIKE, INCLUDING A BODY HOUSING, A MOTOR MOUNTED IN SAID BODY HOUSING, APAIR OF OPPOSED ROTATABLE ELEMENTS HAVING A LONGITUDINAL OPENINGTHEREBETWEEN, EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS HAVING MEANS THEREWITH FOR ENGAGINGA LABEL FOR REMOVING SAME UPON ROTATION OF SAID ELEMENTS, CONNECTIONMEANS CONNECTING SAID MOTOR TO SAID ROTATABLE ELEMENTS, SAID BODYHOUSING HAVING A SLOT THEREIN COINCIDING WITH THE OPENING BETWEEN SAIDROTATABLE ELEMENTS THEREBY PERMITTING A FILE FOLDER OR SHEET WITH ALABEL AFFIXED THERETO TO BE INSERTED THEREIN AND BETWEEN SAID ROTATABLEELEMENTS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID ELEMENTS IN SAID HOUSING TO MAINTAIN SAIDSLOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL OPENING DURING ROTATION OF SAIDROTATABLE ELEMENTS, AND AN ADJUSTMENT MEANS AT EACH END OF ONE OF SAIDROTATABLE ELEMENTS FOR MOVING SAID ONE OF SAID ROTATABLE ELEMENTSLATERALLY AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE OTHER OF SAID ROTATABLEELEMENTS TO ADJUST THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID ROTATABLE ELEMENTS FORACCOMMODATING FOLDERS OR SHEETS OF DIFFERENT THICKNESS.